Abusive and Cruel Clinical Instructors: Why??

Hmmm...this describes two clinical instructors I've had to a "T."

Until nursing school, I was never aware of just how totally worthless a person could be at "teaching" (I use that term loosely). I guess I know now. lol.

Well said! I strongly agree with you! But I would like to think of it as a test or hurdle. The nursing profession is filled with all types of people which include rude people. If you can tolerate your instructor, you can tolerate whatever comes at your in the future.

I am in Nursing school right now and my clinical teacher was horrible... I withdrew from my class but I am still very angry with her attitude and was wondering what I can do about it. I thought about writing an anonymous letter when I graduate. I am afraid however, that I will get her as a clinical instructor again and am not sure how to handle the situation. What should I do any advice from anyone who has experienced this?

Hi there. First off I am so sorry this happened to you..it seems a trend which is quite sickening and very discouraging for the naive student. The same thing happened to me: as I wrote a letter to the dean, the director and assistant director only to be told to take a leave of absence and they were sorry. They would talk to the professor but nothing would be done... Sorry to say, it seems as though, my experiences (short lived) have 100% changed my views of nursing and I do understand in part the reasons for the shortage. If you take a peak on these threads, you will read several professors and head nurses who are less than compassionate to students.. What happened to supporting one another and teaching..that is how people learn..not by being berated and back stabbed. Good luck to you. Im sorry I could not offer better advice..just follow your heart. If this is your passion do not let anyone get in the way of it..soon the old farts will have retired and hopefully a new wave of kindess will flood the field.. :-)

I am having a similar problem with my clinical instructor... She is very difficult to talk to and it seems that she singled me out from the very beginning to "red flag" me as a student that has problems... I cannot believe that anyone would yell at you on the floor that is the most rediculous thing I have ever heard. I will say she has never done this to me. She gets angry and yells in class generally, but never on the floor.
She just writes me up for things that in my opinion are petty- questions I ask, "behaviors" that she hasn't seen because she isn't in the room with me so I don't understand that, general accusations ie I don't take accountability for my actions...etc. The thing is I tied to talk to her but she just talks and cannot listen. She has no tangible way to "help me" when I ask her how I can improve and just says that it would be a waste of her time and asks me why I am in nursing school at all. I am getting As in my other classes. Its so frustrating. I withdrew from this class and am afraid of encountering her again- I would also like to comment on the original message. I have no problem with teachers being "hard" and having expectations. However, it is only fair that I have an expectation of the teacher/ instructor- that is to teach me the skills necessary to succeed at my profession nursing! It is unfair for an instructor to refuse to help me and just assume I will fail because I have made mistakes- I'm only human harry...
I need advice what do I do if I have to encounter this teacher again? should I risk saying anything to anyone else? I considered writing an anonymous letter when I graduate is this a good idea?

That she had lost her license due to misdirection of narcotics for personal use. This person is supposed to supervise student nurses passing meds?? Including narcotics??

soooo, basically, she was a junkie......lolololol, not the laughter of amusement.....

Nursing shortages = job security for veteran nurses

New grad hazing to the point of displacement = job security for veteran nurses

When left to their own devices, occupational trends require acquired skill to predict. Promoting an environment where abuse of human rights is nurtured and encouraged is risky, poisonous, and has the net effect of impacting occupational trends in an unsophisticated way. The more widely accepted, the larger the impact.

People who bully and abuse do so out of fear.

Fear of losing their job.

Fear of losing the respect of colleagues, subordinates, and/or superiors.

Fear of being shown to have inadequacies (so they go out of their way to point out the inadequacies in others).

The only way to overcome fear is to face it.

Bullies and abusers don't want to face their fears head on because deep down, they're cowards - which is why they allow their fears to rule their lives and their interactions with others in the first place.

Bullies and abusers see their fears resonated in people who shine brightly and the reflection is interpreted as a threat.

Bullies and abusers build webs of deception, emotional blackmail, and fear around them to protect themselves from being discovered.

They cope by extinguishing anyone who might, by presence and ability, challenge the status quo and alter the perceptions of the people caught in a bully or abuser's web.

Always remember that a bully is only as strong as the web of deception and fear he/she creates. When the threads are broken and a bully is left to fight his/her own battles, their fear will surface.

The only method I've found to be successful so far in dealing with bullies and abusers is to think three steps ahead.

I would recommend to ANYONE who is considering nursing as a career, read up on the psychology behind bullying and the common tactics of bullies. There are some excellent websites that discuss different abusive "profiles" and how to recognize and combat them. This is something that may or may not be taught in your nursing programs. In case it isn't (most likely not), do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with the climate you could be walking into. Don't walk blindly. Do not trust that it will be eutopic.

Best of luck to you all in your studies!!!

Triq